ROLE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN CANCER THERAPY AND DIAGNOSIS

In the recent times nanotechnological innovations have been applied extensively in finding solutions to problems encountered during conventional cancer therapy and diagnosis- mainly catering to drug targeting and minimizing concomitant adverse effects. From the first studies on liposome-encapsulated drug nanoparticles, progressing through PEGylation to incorporation of biomarkers on the surface, the field has continuously evolved to accommodate newer technologies like gene therapy using Rexin-G, delivering silencing RNA by "Trojan horse" approach to the tumour cells, thermal destruction of the cancerous cells using Kanzius machine and gold nanoparticles. On similar lines, semiconductor-stuffed nanoparticles called quantum dots have improved cancer detection by leaps and bounds. The field of nanotechnology continues to excite the researchers for its immense and untapped utility towards cancer therapy and diagnosis, as witnessed in form of undertrial projects like the formulation of novel BIND-014 nanoparticle, cyclodextrin-based nanoparticle, chemically engineered adenovirus-nanoparticle for stimulating the immune system and another one used as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, among others. Commercialization of recyclable, microemulsion-based nanoparticles is still underway, which could possibly be a significant step towards eco-friendliness and cost